How to Use Synchronous Scrolling in Microsoft Word (Scroll Docs Side by Side)

In Microsoft Word, Synchronous Scrolling allows you to view two documents side by side (or stack on top of each other) and scroll them together in unison.

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The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010. These steps don’t apply to Word for Mac.

How to Use Synchronous Scrolling (Scroll Documents Side by Side)

Open both files in Word.
Select the View tab in the ribbon.

View tab in Word 365 — Figure 1. View tab

Select View Side by Side in the Window group.

View Side by Side option in the View tab in Word 365 — Figure 2. View Side by Side option

The two files should appear side by side on your screen.

Two Word 365 files side by side — Figure 3. Side-by-side files

Select Window in the ribbon on the lefthand file.

Window button in the View tab in Word 365 — Figure 4. Window button

Ensure that Synchronous Scrolling is selected. (It should be selected by default.)

Synchronous Scrolling option in the View tab in Word 365 — Figure 5. Synchronous Scrolling option

Use the horizontal and vertical scroll bars on either file to scroll through both files.

Horizontal and vertical scrollbars in Word 365 — Figure 6. Horizontal and vertical scrollbars

Note that you can move your cursor between both files and work on the text within both files as you normally would.

Pro Tip: Stack the Files on Top of Each Other

To view the files stacked on top of each other rather than side by side, select Arrange All in the Window group.

Arrange All option in the View tab in Word 365 — Figure 7. Arrange All option

To return to the side-by-side view, select Reset Window Position.

Reset Window Position in the View tab in Word 365 — Figure 8. Reset Window Position option

To exit synchronous scrolling, deselect View Side by Side in the Window group (see figure 2).

Both files should return to the full-sized view.

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